Rehabilitation in Germany: new challenges of a structured social security scheme

The structured social security scheme established in Germany is clearly reflected in the configuration of the German rehabilitation system. For medical rehabilitation the institutions of statutory pension insurance and statutory health insurance are of particular importance. Within the past decades differentiated supply structures were built up and re-built within the rehabilitation system. As a consequence, insured parties receive different rehabilitation benefits depending on which insurance is responsible. This article outlines central elements of the German rehabilitation supply structure as well as the numerous rehabilitation forms and benefits. Moreover, perspectives of a recently passed law of rehabilitation and the participation of handicapped people (SGB IX) (SGB=social law), which forces insurers into increased co-operation and restructuring, are presented.